The world is becoming a smaller place as the technology of communications and transportation keeps us closely in touch 24/7.

Meantime scientific research and development exploring space shows us that the universe is ever-expanding. In addition to this, new research of a spiritual nature is revealing a vast inner world proving the immortality of the soul, and its personal, individual identity. Evidence for this comes from psychical research which has taken place over the past 160 years, since the advent of the modern Spiritualist movement. and more recently from the studies of Near Death Experiences, Reincarnation and other manifestations of the paranormal. This evidence provides us with up-to-date explanations for what used to be assigned to the area of miraculous events, This, however, does not demolish our religious faith but rather confirms its reality and validity.

Along with this many-faceted manifestation of the paranormal world, there emerges a vast mostly hidden psychic world of love-intelligence which is the modern equivalent of the older concept of God-consciousness, Herein lies our individual contact with the vaster individual intelligent mind which all of us can claim and attune to, if we take the time and effort. Many methods and techniques are available.

Armed with this awareness of the greater realities and capabilities within us, we have no need for this contemporary anxiety, angst or depression, thinking our existence meaningless and futile. We may have to accept the ups and downs of everyday existence, but we have no cause for alarm. The world is a place to experience and learn from, and since we are immortal, we carry those lessons and skills learned over into the next world. We can understand this when we listen to the messages given to us from those who have preceded us into the next world. The contact they have with us, proves their continued existence, and at the same time also alleviates our natural grief over their death.

The descriptions of the next world provided by these deceased friends and relatives give us great hope and inspiration. as does the knowledge received from our spirit guides.

All this may seem heretical to the orthodox worshipper, who finds solace in the scriptures, rather than contact from a dead relative. But if we really investigate the nature of spiritual awareness and communication with spirit, we can come to no other conclusion - that the material world is only one side of the coin, and to be complete, we have to attune, now to the spirit world, rather than read about it in ancient scriptures, treasured though these may be. In using them as bench-marks of comparison, they will help us understand our current experience, since it is nothing new, but we must live through our own direct experience first-hand rather than live in the past, reading only of other people's experiences..

The fact that we are immortal does not mean that if we get depressed we can go and commit suicide, thinking we wouldn't actually die. Our body would cease to live, and so that is a wasted opportunity, and too easy a way out of difficulties. Since we are immortal, we will take those problems with us. Death does not change our character, but merely places us in a new location, where we can do nothing about the muddles we have left behind. Suicide in that respect causes even more problems.

What we should bear in mind if we get depressed is that we are responsible for our existence, and at some point chose to be here and now with those around us, and perhaps have added to our difficulties with substance abuse and addiction. We may need professional help to rescue us, We should take and accept what assistance we need, graciously, and never give up, opt out of life and our responsibilities.

However, there is stability in knowing that we will survive, whatever happens, and then go on to a greater life in spirit, when it becomes our natural time to die, and move on. That knowledge of our immortality is a beacon of light ahead which dissolves despair and depression and brings us a sense of joy in living, here and now. If we need extra help, we may receive it from friends, local mediums, or professionals, or by reading accounts of life in the spirit world from writers and communicators such as Emanuel Swedenborg, Frederic Myers, and Stainton Moses, or from more recent messages from Silver Birch, Ivy Northage's Chan, Pastor A.D. Mattson, or publisher Douglas Conacher coming through the direct voice mediumship of Leslie Flint., or watching modern mediums at work on television, such as Colin Fry, Theresa Caputo, John Edward and James Van Praagh.